I-81 connector to U.S. 11 is back on the table

Shippensburg >> The promise of more state money for highway projects has breathed new life into old concepts.

Southampton Township supervisors hope to revive a road extension that would connect Interstate 81 Exit 24 at Fayette Street (Pa. 696) to U.S. 11 south of Shippensburg. Planners would make use of the existing Possum Hollow Road and extend the road at a sharp curve to U.S. 11 at Clearfield Road.

The connector road would offer easier access to I-81 for Volvo Construction Equipment and housing developments such as Kaphoe, Thornwood, Thornwood Village and Mazefield, according to Supervisor Sam Cressler. Motorists and truckers currently must go through Shippensburg to get onto I-81.

"You can't widen King Street or Morris Street," Cressler said. "There isn't a way to get more capacity through town. We need to look at alternatives."

Supervisors want to approach the project a little bit at a time, but the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation requires a rigorous, formal plan.

"You can't come into a project halfway through, and then follow the PennDOT process," said John Kennedy, portfolio manager for PennDOT District 8.

The project must appear on the county Metropolitan Planning Organization's transportation improvement plan, according to Cressler. It must include an environmental assessment and engineering design before rights of way can be purchased, according to Kennedy.

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"We like to pick away at a problem," Cressler said. "With PennDOT, it's all or nothing."

The idea of a connector route south of Shippensburg has been around for years.

Supervisors showed a connector route on the township's 2008 official map.

"It was clear at that time that an improved way to get between U.S. 11 and Exit 24 was going to be necessary in the future," Cressler said.

The county plan has since been updated, and the township's population has grown 45 percent, from about 5,500 residents to 8,000. Volvo last year opened a $100 million expansion of its North American headquarters and a promise of 600 jobs.

Mount Rock Road is no longer a candidate for a connector.

"We have had significant residential growth along Mount Rock road since that time, one fatality and numerous accidents," Cressler said "Our goal is to also keep residential and commercial growth around the borough and the interstate exit. This would also keep the potential for growth closer to the borough and utilities."

The road would be a connector with few driveways allowed, according to Cressler.

"It doesn't have to be built today," Cressler said. "We could start engineering and acquiring rights of way. The PennDOT engineering model will not allow us to do that."

The township does not levy a transportation impact fee on new development.

The township might be in a position to trade land for part of the right of way, he said.

The county MPO's draft transportation plan is expected on May 21.

Cressler said the township is reaching out to state Sen. Richard Alloway II, R-Chambersburg, for guidance.

Alloway and Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch met with local officals two weeks ago to discuss long-standing projects that could benefit from state transportation dollars. The revenue comes from uncapping the state franchise tax on wholesale motor fuels.

Projects included an Exit 12 on Interstate 81 and extending Washington Township Boulevard.

"When there are more funds available, there are certainly more projects that can be completed," Cressler said.